KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, has apologised to thousands of commuters who were left stranded during the two-day taxi strike in Durban.

Speaking during a joint media briefing with the taxi industry on Thursday, Duma announced that the strike had officially been halted following successful negotiations.

The strike was initiated by the KwaDabeka and Clermont Taxi Association on Tuesday, following the impoundment of 25 minibus taxis by the Durban Metro Police.

“We reached a consensus that the taxis are going to be operating as from tonight. Tomorrow morning (Friday), almost everything will be back to normal. So normality will be the order of the day,” Duma confirmed during an interview with SABC.

The strike, which began on Thursday, caused widespread disruption to transport services across the city. Taxi drivers downed tools in protest over the impounding of their vehicles, forcing many commuters to scramble for alternative transport. The shutdown sparked frustration across Durban, with many workers, students, and community members unable to reach their destinations.

“Indeed, you know that in the province, or in South Africa at large, 70% of commuters rely on the taxi industry. So it means it is the bedrock of the economy. Many industries are going to suffer, schools, almost all institutions,” said Duma.

“Other kids couldn’t go to school, other workers couldn’t go, and unfortunately, they will be facing issues at work because employers may not understand the situation. That is why we had to intervene, and we do have a relationship with the taxi industry, Santaco in particular.”

Duma said a task team had been established in collaboration with the eThekwini Municipality and taxi associations to address ongoing disputes related to the impounding of vehicles, the impact of e-hailing services, and the issuing of operating permits.

“We must still ensure that we adhere to all the laws of the land, but go deeper and check what ought to be done better, starting with the process of verifying receipts and all those things,” he explained.

Addressing concerns about reported incidents of commuter and bus driver harassment during the strike, Duma said the department had deployed additional traffic and police officers to ensure commuter safety.

“It’s their democratic right to use any type of transport mode, but unfortunately, as you know, when tensions are high, emotions in some instances are not controlled.”

He also acknowledged gaps in coordination between his department and the municipality, but urged against a “blame game”.

“It’s a complex matter. When you impound taxis, it means that a certain family will go to bed hungry because they don’t operate during those days. That is why law enforcement must be handled carefully. We can’t compromise on it, but we must also urgently fix processes that aren’t working.”

Both the provincial government and taxi associations have expressed regret over the disruption caused by the strike. “We are sorry for any inconvenience which might have arisen, in particular for our passengers, the community at large, and for those whose plans were disturbed,” Duma said.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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